1It was finally that day. The one I was going to Volunteer. The day I was sure I was going to Win.
Flashing Axel (my enemy) my most dangerous smile. I step into the overcrowded square and hop into the 16's section.
Its true I really don't have many friends, well unless you count Zara but it seems no one ever counts Zara. Even me.
Anyways I step into roped off area and I know I'm getting stares because of my ripped jeans and baggy top.
'Oh, come on' , I sigh under my breath and stare blankly at the stage,
'Its, not like anyone Cares'
Our relatively new mayor steps onto the stage and starts the long speech he has to repeat Over, and Over. Every year.
I say our new mayor because… Lets say our old one took an unexpected tumble,
Sniggering under my breath I see that our escort, Pearly something or another, has stepped onto the stage,
' Welcome, District 2' she says her breathless capitol tone.
' Lets choose our lucky girl…'
My body tenses and it seems everything is in slow motion,
For the past 2 years I have tried to volunteer but have been beaten. And this year Axel seems to want to Volunteer too.
' Axel Strong'
I have barely time to laugh at the chance of that before I am fighting the other girls to the front of the stage and somehow I'm at the front and Pearlie is asking my name,
' Clove Hawkins' I say confidently,
' Brilliant' she says in her silly voice and goes off to call the boys where these is the same scramble to the front and a boy about a year or two older than me announces that his name is 'Cato Bleakly'
I give him a wry smile as I shake his hand as I remember his horrific temper which could prove a blessing or a curse for the other careers and I.
It seems no-one seems to want to say goodbye to me, but really I couldn't care less as both my parents are peacekeepers in god knows what district, I think my dad is head peacekeeper somewhere in the lower districts like 8,11 or 12.
It seems however that Cato is having a blast with whoever is with him and I feel a surge of jealousy run through me.
Not now clove! I try to tell myself but It's no use,
I still need to kill Cato Bleakly.